Delray, Boca groups collect, distribute post-Irma supplies

Volunteers from throughout the Delray Beach and Boca Raton Jewish communities sort supplies at the Levis JCC on the Federation campus in west Boca Raton as part of a giant relief effort in the wake of Hurricane Irma. (COURTESY)

The 48 houses of worship, agencies and organizations from Delray Beach and Boca Raton that only two weeks ago formed Boca Delray Hurricane Relief in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey has shifted its concern to those in need closer to home following Hurricane Irma.

This group is continuing its collection of supplies — and the funds to purchase them — for urgent distribution where they are needed.

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As of Tuesday, Sept. 12, the collection site has moved to the Biefield Auditorium at the Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center's Sandler Center on the west Boca Raton campus of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County.

Ron Gallatin — chairman, president and CEO of Hands on Tzedakah (HOT), the Boca Raton-based nonprofit coordinating the collaborative local relief collections and distribution — explains that, as it has in other urgent situations, HOT is working with groups locally and on the ground elsewhere to determine, collect and purchase what is most needed — as well as to arrange deliveries for the most effective immediate distribution.

"A huge humanitarian effort continues to be needed to help address the destruction and displacement from these storms — and our community is stepping up in a major way," said Gallatin. "All of our varied local synagogues, Jewish schools and agencies that took this initiative have been joined by an array of other civic, religious and business entities eager to participate."

Gallatin indicated that nearly $450,000 in funds, pledges and supplies had been received as of Wednesday, Sept. 13.

"Donations are now going out as fast as they are coming in; we are turning funds into emergency supplies and getting it all where it is most needed as quickly as we can," Gallatin said.

"So far, seven truckloads of emergency goods have headed to the Keys — and another truck filled with 24,192 bottles of water is being distributed to seniors, those with special needs, low-income people and those flooded or without electricity," Gallatin continued. "Three trucks filled with kosher food also will be headed here from New York later this week."

Gallatin said the relief effort had already sent more than $40,000 in supplies to assist with clean-up from Hurricane Harvey and to meet basic necessities for daily living in Houston — and had been prepared to send another $100,000 in supplies to Houston,

However, in light of the extensive disruption and damage caused by Hurricane Irma closer to home, Gallatin said he was asked by all the organizations he was dealing with in Houston to use the collection to help people in need in Florida before thinking about those in Texas again.

Danielle Hartman, president and CEO of Ruth & Norman Rales Jewish Family Services (JFS) — the Boca Raton-based Jewish social-services agency — said that in preparation for and since Hurricane Irma, JFS has established relationships with organizations that may need help in the Keys, Miami, the Everglades, the Glades and western Florida.

"We are quickly prioritizing their needs to send out supplies imminently," Hartman said.

Hartman urges anyone in need in Delray Beach, Boca Raton or Highland Beach to fill out a brief form at www.ralesjfs.org/disaster_relief or to call 561-852-3333 to let the agency know their situation.

Rabbi Josh Broide, director of the Deborah and Larry D. Silver Center for Jewish Engagement at the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, recruited synagogues and other partners from across the community for this effort.

Broide also obtained the gift of the three large trucks filled with kosher food that will arrive from New York to ensure a kosher holiday for many in the region who might otherwise have had to do without.

"This community shows its strength and unity in a time like this," said Broide.

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Matthew C. Levin, Federation president and CEO, said the.Federation could not be more proud of the local Jewish community.

"We are grateful to be able to provide our campus and other resources so quickly," Levin said. "Bringing so many of us together to help in a time of crisis strengthens us as a community and as a people as it provides urgently needed help to those living with the tragic effects of this devastating storm."

In addition to essential material supplies, Gallatin said that monetary contributions are very much needed.

"Receiving funds enables us to purchase full pallets of immediately needed goods and deliver them more quickly than we can by packing boxes and shrink wrapping pallets of miscellaneous items," Gallatin said.

The Federation and Hands on Tzedakah ensure that 100 percent of funds received will be used to help those severely impacted by the hurricanes.